Spring training has reached the St. Patrick's Day juncture, which signals the unofficial stretch run for roster spots. The Rockies are desperate to redeem themselves from last year's 98-loss embarrassment. They mapped out a strategy in an Opryland Resort suite in December at baseball's winter meetings, calling for a Blake Street Bullies offense, a barbed-wire bullpen and a steady diet of groundballs from the rotation.

The team's starting pitching remains shrouded in questions, given the health, performance and lack of experience in the group. The Rockies will continue monitoring the trade market and waiver wire, but four of the five slots are nearly locks. (Is there time for Christian Friedrich to sneak his way onto the club?)

In a quiet spring training, where Troy Tulowitzki's health qualifies as daily news, not every job is certain. The most captivating story line over the final two weeks will be at third base: Will the kid, Nolan Arenado, force his way into the lineup? Or will the Rockies stay with Chris Nelson?